Moldova Risks Losing EU Cash Over Delayed Reform

Moldova risks losing 30 million euros of 100 million euros in macro-financial aid from the European Union if its parliament fails to pass a law on the NGO sector seen as a condition for the release of the money.

The so-called NGO law is part of a package of conditions set by Brussels obliging Moldova to implement reforms in line with the Association Agreement it signed with the EU in June 2014.

Parliament was due to convene on Friday to vote on the law, after a 14-day quarantine break imposed by the outbreak of COVID-19 among two deputies from the ruling majority, comprising the Socialist Party, PSRM, and Democratic Party, PD.

"The expectation was that these conditional matters would be adopted last week. As things stand, the tranche will most likely be missed," the European Parliament rapporteur for Moldova, Dragos Tudorache, said on Tuesday on TVR Moldova.

Both the pro-Russian President, Igor Dodon, and the Prime Minister, Ion Chicu, on Monday said they disagreed with the current provisions on the law, especially those on NGO funding from abroad. They said the law in its present form cannot be adopted and it has to be revised.

"Moldova as a state must have control over internal activities like any state that respects itself, so I hope the parliament will go and vote considering the amendments approved in the Commission last week," Chicu said. He accused members of the opposition who wanted to promote the law of attempting to destroy the state.

On Thursday, Dodon softened his rhetoric, however, and stated that he might enact the law if parliament passes various amendments suggested by him and the Socialist Party, especially on Article 6 of the draft law.

"In some European countries, it is expressly stated that if NGOs get...